SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 4, 1989
16
BACKDROP OF TUNG CHUNG FORT FOR BEATING RETREAT SHOWS
* * * * *
AND
THE 16 DECADES OLD TUNG CHUNG FORT, A FORMER MARITIME BASE POLICE STATION, WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE PARADE GROUND OF THE POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL TO HIGHLIGHT THE MILITARY ORIGIN OF THE BEATING RETREAT CEREMONY.
THE ANNUAL EVENT, WHICH IS EVOLVED FROM THE MILITARY PRACTICE OF BEATING DRUMS TO CALL BACK TROOPS FROM BATTLES TO FORTS, IS ONE OF THE MOST COLOURFUL AND STIRRING MUSICAL FUNCTIONS IN THE POLICE CALENDAR.
THE TWO PUBLIC SHOWS, FEATURING THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE BANDS AND THE ROYAL MALAYSIA POLICE BAND IN FRONT OF A BACKDROP SHOWING THE MONUMENTAL TUNG CHUNG FORT, ON NOVEMBER 18 | SATURDAY) AND OF 19 (SUNDAY). BOTH SHOWS WILL BEGIN AT 7 PM. WILL BE A REMINISCENCE THE PAST MILITARY SPECTACLE.
BUILT IN 1832, TUNG CHUNG FORT WAS CHOSEN AS THE MARITIME HEADQUARTERS OF THE RIGHT BATTALION OF MIRS BAY IN THE QING DYNASTY BECAUSE OF ITS STRATEGIC LOCATION ON THE NORTHERN COAST OF LANTAU ISLAND WHERE IT COULD EFFECTIVELY CONTROL THE SEA PASSAGE DIVIDING LANTAU FROM THE MAINLAND.
ITS LINK WITH THE POLICE FORCE DATES BACK TO 1898 WHEN OF FORT WAS ADAPTED AS A POLICE STATION FOLLOWING THE EVACUATION QING AUTHORITIES AFTER THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE LEASED TO BRITAIN.
THE SIX CANNONS ON THE RAMPARTS FACING NORTH WERE BELIEVED HAVE BEEN MOVED TO THE FORT DURING THAT TIME.
THE
THE
ΤΟ
IN 1979. THE FORT WAS DECLARED AS A MONUMENT BY THE ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY IN REMEMBRANCE OF ITS PAST MILITARY SIGNIFICANCE. IT NOW HOUSES THE RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE AND THE PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL OF TUNG CHUNG.
AMONG THE SPECTATORS ATTENDING THE BEATING RETREAT THIS YEAR WILL BE 84-YEAR-OLD MADAME TAI SIU-NGOI, WHO IS A HISTORICAL WITNESS TO THE CHANGES OF TUNG CHUNG FORT. SHE WILL BE INVITED AS A POLICE GUEST OF HONOUR TO THE EVENT.
MADAME TAI, BORN AND BROUGHT UP GRAND AND GREAT-GRAND CHILDREN.
IN
TUNG
CHUNG, NOW HAS 20
RECALLING HER PAST OLD DAYS, MADAME ΤΑΙ SAID: "I STILL
TO REMEMBER THOSE DAYS WHEN I USED
SAY HELLO TO THOSE 'SAI YEN' (WESTERNERS IN FRONT OF THE RAMPARTS EVERY MORNING.
"ALTHOUGH THEY LOOKED VERY BIG AND FOREIGN, THEY WERE ALL VERY NICE AND ALWAYS SAID 'JOE SON' (GOOD MORNING TO ME.
++
"A FEW YEARS AFTER I GOT MARRIED, THOSE 'SAI FORT AND IT WAS TURNED INTO A SCHOOL, SHE SAID.
"
YEN LEFT THE
/"I AM ....